Northern France Yarn Holiday with West Yorkshire Spinners by Rail

With our rail-inclusive package, meet Jane and your Tour Manager at London St. Pancras for the Eurostar journey to Lille.

If you have booked our join direct package, meet us at the Eurostar station in Lille.

We will be met by our coach and driver and transfer to Musee de la Bonneterie (Hosiery Museum) in Moreuil. Housed in a former factory, this museum brings together circular sock looms, remeshing, knitting and winding machines from the region’s past as a centre for textile excellence. Badestamiers worked here, making knitted stockings from estame, a type of wool which was tightly twisted, carded and spun by hand. These stockings were often worn by the wealthier classes, replacing breaches for men. The museum is managed solely by volunteers, who dedicate themselves to the preservation of the machines and the memory of the hosiery tradition that bought wealth to this area.

After an included lunch, we continue to Rouen for an evening at leisure.

Rouen is an historic city located on the Seine River. It is known for its rich medieval heritage and stunning Gothic architecture, including the famous cathedral painted by Claude Monet. The city is also renowned as the place where Joan of Arc was tried and executed. With its charming old town, half-timbered houses, and vibrant cultural life, Rouen offers a unique blend of history, art, and inspiration.

This morning, we enjoy a two-hour walking tour of Rouen with a local English-speaking guide. The tour will unveil the splendid cathedral, boasting the widest façade in France, decorated with a breathtaking array of statues and intricate stone lace. On the first floor of the majestic Renaissance-style Bureau des Finances, Claude Monet set up his easel to paint his famous canvases of the cathedral.

No visit to Rouen is complete without seeing the city’s iconic Gros Horloge, a stunning Renaissance astronomic clock arching over the bustling street. At the Old Market Square, outside the Saint Joan of Arc Church, a large steel cross marks the location of the stake where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431.

After some free time for lunch, we return to our hotel for our first workshop with Jane. Tea/coffee will be served during the session.

Enjoy the evening at leisure.

Rouen’s Musee des Beaux Arts houses one of the most outstanding public collections in France. It features paintings, sculptures, drawings and objets d'art from every school, ranging from the 15th century to the present day, including the largest Impressionist collection outside Paris. We’ll enjoy a one-hour guided tour of some of the highlights of the museum’s permanent collection, with the rest of the morning at leisure for you to continue to enjoy the other exhibits in the museum or to further explore Rouen.

This afternoon, we return to the hotel for our second workshop with Jane. Tea/coffee will be served during the session.

This evening is at leisure.

We leave Rouen today and travel towards Paris. En route, we stop in Giverny, best known as the home of famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Here, with our local English-speaking guide, we’ll visit the stunning gardens and house where Monet lived and worked for over 40 years. The village, with its picturesque landscapes and serene atmosphere, served as a major inspiration for many of Monet’s most iconic works, including his celebrated water lily series.

After our included lunch, our final visit in Giverny will be to the Musée des Impressionnismes (Museum of Impressionism).

We continue to our hotel in Le Plessis-Robinson, located in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Enjoy a full-day workshop with Jane at our hotel. Tea/coffee will be served in the morning and afternoon. This evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

We’ll spend a full day in Paris today, guided by local knitter and Stitchtopia expert Julie Dubreux. Our day will start at Les Tricoteurs Volants, where the owner Enrico will introduce us to all the different French yarns that he stocks in his beautiful pink store. Lil Weasel is an exquisite yarn shop hidden away in a 19th century passageway. Carine, the store owner, also hand-dyes her yarn in a tiny studio above the store.

Free time for lunch will be followed by a relaxing afternoon cruise on the River Seine. From this unique perspective, we’ll see some of the city’s architectural highlights, including the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.

Enjoy the evening at leisure.

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most iconic symbols of royal opulence and absolute monarchy in European history. Originally a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII, it was transformed and expanded by his son, Louis XIV, into a grandiose palace that became the centre of political power in France during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Renowned for its exquisite architecture, lavish gardens, and the dazzling Hall of Mirrors, Versailles exemplifies the height of French classical art and design. We’ll spend the full day here, firstly in the palace with an audio guide, followed by free time for you to explore the gardens, which cover 2,000 acres of land, much of which is landscaped in the classic French formal garden style. You can also visit the Trianon Palaces and the Estate of Marie Antoinette.

The Grand Trianon was Louis XIV’s second residence and offered him a life less constrained by the protocols of the Court. The Petit Trianon and its park are inextricably linked to the memory of Queen Marie Antoinette. In her Trianon Estate, given to her by Louis XVI in 1774, she found a haven of intimacy that enabled her to escape court etiquette.

This evening is at leisure.